Canadian Content Expanded for 2016 BMW Motorsports Drivers' Line-Up

Photo Credit: BMW Motorsport

BMW's auto racing program gains some additional excitement in 2016. Two all-new race-prepped versions of the BMW M6 will lead the brand's motorsport charge in the new year. IMSA's WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship competition will gain the all-new BMW M6 GTLM fieled by Team BMW RLL (Rahal Letterman Lanigan). Along with with the two-car GTLM effort, the M6 GT3 will operate in the IMSA series' GTD class as well as other GT racing series across the globe. In addition to upgraded race hardware for 2016, BMW Motorsport's world driving line-up is upgraded with presence of two established Canadian sports car racers.

Returning to the 2016 BMW Motorsport team line-up is 2012 DTM Champion Bruno Spengler. French born, Spengler actively campaigns as a Canadian driver after his family moved to Quebec when he was three years old. A competitor in DTM since 2005, he renews with the German automaker's motorsport effort for a fifth consecutive season in the series. In addition to DTM competition, Bruno Spengler's name will be seen on the side of new BMW M6 GTLM at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. A return trip for the 32-year-old driver called "The Secret Canadian", Spengler finished second with Team BMW RLL in class last year.    

Photo Credit: BMW Motorsport

Alongside Bruno Spengler's one-race participation in the IMSA WeatherTech United SportsCar Championship top event, Canada can patriotically cheer on Team BMW RLL new driver Kuno Wittmer. The Montreal, Quebec racer arrives in the BMW Motorsports' IMSA program after several successful seasons competing with a Dodge Viper. Part of a factory-backed SRT Motorsports in 2014, he won the inaugural GTLM category drivers' title in the United SportsCar Championship. When SRT Motorsports pulled out of IMSA sports car racing class after Wittmer's championship year, he moved to the GTD class and ran with Riley Motorsports. Driving the Dodge Viper GT3-R, Kuno Wittmer earned class victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona alongside his four teammates.

Kuno Wittmer will be partnered with the driving line-up for one of the Team BMW RLL fielded BMW M6 GTLM for longer distance races at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta.

Both Canadian drivers will be part of the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona scheduled for January 30th and 31st.

Bruno Spengler Wins All at Hockenheim DTM Finale

Photo Source: DTM

Concluding what has been another exciting tour for the DTM series, the race cars and teams return to the Hockenheimring, where the 2012 season started less than six months earlier. Despite starting the season as an early casualty of the opening 2012 DTM series event, Canadian driver Bruno Spengler (who had signed with the returning BMW squad late 2011 after a long time with Mercedes-Benz teams) roared back with three wins to challenge season-long points leader Gary Paffett.

Trekking out on the 4.574-kilometer long Hockenheim circuit on Saturday prior to Sunday’s main event, qualifying saw Gary Paffett muscled out a 2^nd fastest time in his Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe sponsored by THOMAS SABO. Bettering Spengler’s BMW M3 by just one position, the Brit Paffett only needed to finish ahead of Spengler to clinch the championship honours for a season of racing. Augusto Farfus took the pole for the DTM Hockenheim finale with a 1-minute, 34.140-second lap time.

 

Photo Source: DTM

While Paffett rested on the grid in prime position for his second DTM championship leading up to the start of 42 laps at Hockenheim, the contention for the 2012 series title immediately heated up. Due to a weak start by Gary Paffett, Bruno Spengler was able to storm by the Mercedes-Benz rival for the second place spot. Spengler’s BMW Bank M3 race car would waste little time displacing the fellow BMW Augusto Farfus from the race lead by the end of lap 1.

Dropping to as low as fourth position, Gary Paffett recovered to second place before the halfway point of the event and would put up a formidable challenge against the leading BMW of Bruno Spengler. Never able to stretch a lead of more than 3.6 seconds under race conditions, Spengler would be able to read the inverted THOMAS SABO lettering in his mirrors often throughout the event. By lap 36, Gary Paffett had closed to within 1.2 seconds of the Canadian Spengler and prepared to give the BMW Bank car a late-race battle for the event victory as well as the all-important championship. Resisting the challenge, Bruno Spengler added some more speed to his BMW M3 creeping away from the Mercedes-Benz race car. Crossing the line 2.2 seconds in the lead to win the Hockenheim event, Bruno Spengler (a 29-year old driver defined in media as “The Secret Canadian”) celebrated the end of his 8^th season in DTM racing with his first driver championship.

Photo Source: DTM

Finishing 2^nd on two occasions in yearly title chases, Spengler had seen the DTM championship slip away from him in 7 previous seasons in the largely German-based racing tour. However, in 2012, it was finally Bruno Spengler‘s turn to be crowned the DTM driver champion. "My pulse was really racing." said the victorious Spengler that overcame a slow start to the 2012 DTM series to win the championship. "Thank you to BMW Team Schnitzer. My team did a great job all season. Once again, everything went exactly to plan today. In a race, in which we were under extreme pressure, the team did another amazing job on the pit stops. You never win on your own – only as part of a team. I am totally confused and have no idea how I should be feeling. Standing on the top step of the podium, raising the trophy to the sky and seeing all the many fans cheering for me is an amazing experience. I have waited for this for so many years. It is simply sensational.”

Gary Paffett applied a solid fight to Bruno Spengler in this final race at Hockenheim that did not go unnoticed by the victorious Canadian. “Congratulations to my rival Gary Paffett, who performed brilliantly throughout the entire season and put up a fair fight. He would also have been a worthy champion. He is a great sportsman. He put me under a lot of pressure in the final race today. I spent a lot of time looking in the rear-view mirror and he just kept getting closer. However, I was able to maintain my pace and close the race out.” said Spengler.

Photo Source: DTM

By a matter of four points, Gary Paffett had to settle for a runner-up spot in the 2012 DTM championship. “My team has done brilliantly well this season in terms of performance and it is very unfortunate that we missed winning the championship title in the last race by four points.” said Paffett after the Hockenheim event. A winner of a DTM championship in 2005, Gary Paffett doubt with the narrow 2012 season title loss in stride saying, “So in the immediate aftermath of the race, disappointment sits deep, of course, because from my point of view we deserved to win the championship title just as much as Bruno Spengler and BMW. Congratulations to Bruno on his first DTM title! We will go on the attack again next year to take the championship.“



2012 DTM Series
Hockenheimring
Race Results

Pos #	Driver	Nationality	Race Organization	Car Make
1	Bruno Spengler	Canada	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
2	Gary Paffett	England	THOMAS SABO	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
3	Augusto Farfus	Brazil	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
4	Jamie Green	England	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
5	Dirk Werner	Germany	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
6	Edoardo Mortara	Italy	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
7	Andy Priaulx	Guernsey (Britain)	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
8	Joey Hand	United States	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
9	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
10	Christian Vietoris	Germany	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
11	Filipe Albuquerque	Portugal	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
12	Timo Scheider	Germany	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
13	Susie Wolff	Scotland	TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
14	Martin Tomczyk	Germany	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
15	Roberto Merhi	Spain	Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
16	Rahel Frey	Switzerland	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
17	Miguel Molina	Spain	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
18	David Coulthard	Scotland	DHL Paket Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
19	Robert Wickens	Canada	stern Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
20	Mattias Ekström	Sweden	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
21	Mike Rockenfeller	Germany	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
22	Adrien Tambay	France	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5

Paffett Brands Hometown Pride on Brand Hatch DTM Race

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

The first visit for the 2012 DTM tour ourside of Germany, the field of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW race cars roared around the British Brands Hatch road course. The third race on the calender, Gary Paffett enters his home country with a win and a second place finish in the early stage of the season. With the two earlier races won by Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the 1.929-kilomter Brands Hatch circuit would be an important barometer to establish the balance of the 2012 DTM schedule.

On Saturday, Gary Paffett delighted the British crowd by placing his Thomas Sabo Mercedes AMG C-Coupe on the pole. Outpowering teammate Christian Vietoris by 0.144 seconds and BMW driver Bruno Spengler by 0.194 seconds, Paffett sights were set with a clear path for Sunday's 97-lap main event.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

Right from the start, Gary Paffett took advantage of his pole position to lead the opening lap of the Brands Hatch race. The front row starting car driven by Christian Vietoris lost race positions at the beginning of the Brands Hatch DTM event as Bruno Spengler was able to navigate his BMW M3 into the second place spot.  By lap 10, Paffett and his Mercedes AMG C-Coupe had a one-second lead on the Spengler.

A racetrack cited as being difficult for passing, drivers at Brands Hatch were offered few opportunities to gain position on the race track. As the race progressed, DTM frontrunners such as Mercedes AMG's Jamie Green and Audi Sport's Mattias Ekström were playing catch-up throughout the 97-lap event. Ekström would finish fifth with his Red Bull Audi A5 while Jamie Green would come across the Brands Hatch start/finish line 8th.

The BMW M3 of Andy Priaulx made an early exit from the race as a result of crash damage early in the event. The second major retirement of the Brands Hatch race was lined to the Audi A5 driven by Timo Scheider. Scheider would be forced out of the race on lap 55 due to an engine misfire after a difficult Sunday race for the German. 

Photo Credit: BMW AG

Spengler's brush with some turn 1 curbing injured the front splitter of his BMW M3 race car. Into the late laps of the Brand Hatch race, Bruno Spengler's attention was devoted to his mirrors in efforts to hold off the Audi A5 of Mike Rockenfeller. Managing to hold off Rockenfeller's charge, Spengler crossed the line 5 seconds behind Gary Paffett who sailed to his second victory of 2012. “I am very happy with this second place. Gary Paffett was very quick, particularly in the first stint. Despite this, I was able to hang on to his coattails. It reminded me of my win at the Lausitzring, but with the roles reversed. It was a tough race." said Spengler in post race.

An error-free Brands Hatch event for Paffett, the Thomas Sabo Mercedes AMG C-Coupe driver explained that "it was a perfect race that we controlled from start to finish". With the early success for Gary Paffett, the British driver holds the overall points lead in DTM by 25 points.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

With Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi securing a podium spot for the first time in 2012 at Brands Hatch, Martin Tomczyk brought another BMW M3 home 4th ahead of Mattias Ekström.

As one seasoned Canadian has earned a win and a runner-up position in the last two events on the DTM series, the 2012 DTM second driver from Canada had another learning experience with the stern Mercedes AMG C-Coupe. Robert Wickens finished 14th in the Brands Hatch race, you spot behind the BMW M3 of United States driver Joey Hand. "All in all, I'm happy with my third DTM race. My pace was quite decent and my stern AMG Mercedes C-Coupé ran very well. I'm getting better from race to race and gaining experience through working with the team.“ said Wickens continuing to learn the fendered race cars.

The next race for the 2012 DTM series involves a trip to the Austrian Red Bull Ring on June 3rd.



2012 DTM
Brands Hatch
Race Results

Pos #	Driver	Nationality	Race Organization	Car Make
1	Gary Paffett	England	THOMAS SABO	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
2	Bruno Spengler	Canada	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
3	Mike Rockenfeller	Germany	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
4	Martin Tomczyk	Germany	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
5	Mattias Ekström	Sweden	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
6	Christian Vietoris	Germany	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
7	Miguel Molina	Spain	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
8	Jamie Green	England	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
9	Edoardo Mortara	Italy	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
10	Filipe Albuquerque	Portugal	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
11	Augusto Farfus	Brazil	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
12	Adrien Tambay	France	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
13	Joey Hand	United States	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
14	Robert Wickens	Canada	stern Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
15	David Coulthard	Scotland	DHL Paket Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
16	Dirk Werner	Germany	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
17	Roberto Merhi	Spain	Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
18	Rahel Frey	Switzerland	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
19	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
20	Susie Wolff	Scotland	TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
21	Timo Scheider	Germany	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
22	Andy Priaulx	Guernsey (Britain)	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3

Canadian Spengler Claims DTM Lausitzring Win for BMW

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

After sizing each other up in the opening round of the 2012 DTM at the Hockenheimring, a 22-car grid set for the Lausitzring has a read that the Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe machines and Audi's new A5 race car were up to speed. Making a return to the DTM tour after nearly 20 years out of the German-based auto racing league, BMW realized that their return to the sport was not going to be easy. In sixth spot behind the winning Mercedes-AMG of Gary Paffet, Andy Priaulx led the charge of the BMW M3 DTM racers. Entering round two, the 2012 DTM series would treat the German crowd to a new winner in a very young season.

Taking pole for Sunday's 52-lap event on the 3.478-kilometer road course, it was BMW's turn to take the fight back to the leaders of DTM racing. Canadian veteran Bruno Spengler led a BMW M3 front row with his #7 BMW Bank machine joined by the #16 of Augusto Farfus.

Photo Credit: BMW Group

Leading from the start, Spengler's BMW M3 averted the disaster that resulted in a short race at the Hockenheimring last week with his #7 BMW Team Schnitzer car. Challenging the pole-sitter,  the #5 Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe of Jamie Green came from 6th to 1st place on lap 21. Despite an effort that consisted of the #5 Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe turning the race's fastest lap of 1 minute, 19.025 seconds, Green would fade to fourth unable to catch the 3rd place car for the final podium spot.
Winning the race from pole position, Bruno Spengler won by more than a second over the Thomas Sabo Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe of Gary Paffet. The 10th career win for the Canadian driver, this victory for BMW comes eactly 19 years, 6 months and 25 days since the German carmaker's last DTM race success. The BMW M3 DTM car's first win was complemented by a third place result of Augusto Farfus. "Augusto Farfus drove a fantastic race. I was behind him most of the time, but despite the great pace of my car, I couldn’t get past." said Farfus' competitor Jamie Green. Commenting on the success of the BMW camp, the automaker's Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt said, “This is a very special moment – beyond our wildest dreams. Bruno Spengler’s magnificent victory is the icing on the cake at the end of an incredible week. First came our impressive comeback weekend in Hockenheim, then the first pole position yesterday and now – in only our second race – our first victory in the new DTM era."

Photo Credit: BMW Group

Starting the season with a first and second place finish, Gary Paffet has set a high benchmark for the beginning of the 2012 DTM season. Still, Paffet was disappointed missing out on a second-straight victory. "It's such a pity. My THOMAS SABO Mercedes AMG C-Coupé had enough speed to win again today. I was just a bit too far behind at the pit-stop. Having said that, my car was really quick and had a brilliant set-up, a tribute to the team" said Gary Paffet. Ralf Schumacher rounded out the top-10 efforts for the Mercedes-AMG C-Coupe cars in the Lausitzring event. Regrettably, the Mercedes-AMG C-Class driven by the second Canadian driver in DTM Robert Wickens held the only race retirement. Running wide on a corner, Wickens fight ended on lap 48.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

Along with Bruno Spengler's reversal of fortunes, several other drivers experienced improved results on the event for the 2012 DTM series. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline 2011 champion Martin Tomczyk has finished 20th at the Hockenheimring but recovered to an 8th place finish with his #1 BMW M3 at the Lausitzring.

While the Lausitzring race was a time where the Mercedes-AMG and BMW group cars had a moment to shine, the Audi A5 racing vehicles experienced a less than stellar outing for their second race of the 2012 DTM series but salvaged a strong effort for the four-ring badge. Scoring a podium on the Hockenheimring, the Audi Sport Abt Sportsline team car piloted by Mattias Ekström again led the brigade of A5 Coupes by finishing 5th. Audi Sport Team Rosberg #3 and #4 cars were also able to lock down top-10, point-scoring results making four overall for the auto manufacturer.
The next race for the 2012 DTM Series will be a British stop at the Brand Hatch road course on May 20th. 

  

Pos #	Driver	Nationality	Race Organization	Car Make
1	Bruno Spengler	Canada	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
2	Gary Paffett	England	THOMAS SABO	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
3	Augusto Farfus	Brazil	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
4	Jamie Green	England	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
5	Mattias Ekström	Sweden	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
6	Timo Scheider	Germany	Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline	Audi A5
7	Martin Tomczyk	Germany	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
8	Edoardo Mortara	Italy	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
9	Filipe Albuquerque	Portugal	Audi Sport Team Rosberg	Audi A5
10	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
11	Christian Vietoris	Germany	Mercedes-Benz Bank AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
12	David Coulthard	Scotland	DHL Paket Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
13	Mike Rockenfeller	Germany	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
14	Joey Hand	United States	BMW Team RMG	BMW M3
15	Miguel Molina	Spain	Audi Sport Team Phoenix	Audi A5
16	Roberto Merhi	Spain	Junge Sterne Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
17	Andy Priaulx	Guernsey (Britain)	BMW Team RBM	BMW M3
18	Adrien Tambay	France	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
19	Dirk Werner	Germany	BMW Team Schnitzer	BMW M3
20	Rahel Frey	Switzerland	Audi Sport Team Abt	Audi A5
21	Susie Wolff	Scotland	TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
22	Robert Wickens	Canada	stern Mercedes AMG	Mercedes AMG C-Coupé

XSL Speed Reporter Guide to the 2012 DTM Series

Photo Credit: BMW AG

A series growing in international popularity, the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) has grown from modest German touring car roots. While the 11-race 2012 tour maintains much of its spectacle inside Germany, four other European countries are scheduled to play host to what is a new look series this year.

New race vehicle specifications designed to reduce vehicle costs, improve safety as well as the racing product in DTM has provided a window for auto manufacturer’s participation in the series. While Mercedes-AMG decided to modernize their familiar C-Class Coupe, Audi (who won 8 of the DTM series’ 12 races in 2011) chose to integrate the A5 Coupe into the 2012 tour. This season also welcomes back BMW after a near 20-year hiatus. All cars are powered by V-8 engines generating between 450 and 500 horsepower. The changes to the race vehicles were only a change the opening 2012 DTM Series round at the 4.574-kilometer Hockenheimring GP Circuit would present.

Photo Credit: Audi AG

Drivers from 11 countries are represented at the first race of the 2012 DTM Series. Along the featured drivers are two of Canada’s many promising young professional competing at the upper echelons of motorsports. Runner-up in the 2006 and 2007 DTM championship, Bruno “The Secret Canadian” Spengler landed a ride in BMW’s DTM comeback in 2012. Driving the #7 for Team Schnitzer, the 28 year-old Spengler has aligned himself with an entity that has propelled BMWs to the greatest heights in motorsports including the overall win at the 1999 24-Hour of Le Mans race. Joining the Canadian Spengler wheeling the BMW M3 DTM car is defending DTM champion Martin Tomczyk, three-time World Touring Car Championship title winner Andy Priaulx, German sports car notable Dirk Werner and American Le Mans Series champion Joey Hand.

Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion and Formula 1 test driver during the 2011 season for Marussia-Virgin Racing, Toronto, Ontario born Robert Wickens will embrace fendered race vehicles for the very first time in competition driving a Mercedes-AMG C-Class Coupe for stern. Wickens is part of the Mercedes-AMG contingent that has former Formula 1 drivers David Couthard and Ralf Schumacher steering the DTM-prepped C-Class Coupes. UK drivers Gary Paffett and Jamie Green are also notable this season.




Photo Credit: Daimler AG

With 2011 champion Martin Tomczyk taking the #1 with him to BMW, the Audi A5 DTM car squad will be led by the two-time series champion and last year’s overall point runner-up Mattias Ekström. The presence of veteran DTM driver and occasional Audi Sport Team Joest prototype pilot Mike Rockenfeller will also be expected to be a visible driver with Audi. Other Audi A5 DTM machines to watch this 2012 season should also include the vehicles #4 Timo Scheider and the #18 of French rookie Adrien Tambay.

Photo Credit: Daimler AG

2012 DTM Series Schedule

Date	Event	Country	Race Course	Laps
April 29th	Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg	Germany	4,574 km	40 Laps
May 6th	Lausitzring	Germany	3,478 km	52 Laps
May 20th	Brands Hatch	United Kingdom	1,929 km	98 Laps
June 3rd	Red Bull Ring Spielberg	Austria	4,326 km	42 Laps
July 1st	Norisring	Germany	2,300 km	82 Laps
July 15th	Olympiastadion Munchen	Germany	Special Course
August 19th	Nürburgring	Germany	3,629 km	49 Laps
August 26th	Circuit Park Zandvoort	Netherlands	4,307 km	41 Laps
September 16th	Motorsport Arena Oschersleben	Germany	3,696 km	50 Laps
September 30th	Valencia	Spain	4,005 km	45 Laps
October 21st	Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg	Germany	4,574 km	38 Laps